San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-23
. $ | \ T s

glVeneSS before II Is sought"
The "here they come" of this youth
full adviser, referred to the two men who
were now Fastening towards them.
Assuming an indifference which she
was far from feeling, Ethel entered in
to the spirit of playful badinage inter
changed so often and with such studied
impOliteness between Bella and Charlie
Derring, as they now altogether retraced
their steps hOmewards, the girls COM
ing to the mutual conclusion that so
many delays having occurred, it was far
too late and dirk TO venture on the ice.
Several hours subsequently, after
their maids had left them for the night,
Bell softly entered Ethel's cosy, holly
wreathed room. Could the gallant cap
tain only have seen his little sweetheart
now, with bare white feet peeping from
the neatest of satin slippers, her golden
hair flowing far down the pale blue
cashmere dressing-gown,h her sunny eyes
for the moment flooded with deeper,
truer light, he would, if possible, have
been far more in love with her than
ever.
Come, Cissy, cheer up" she said,
kindly, as she knelt before the fire, and
drew her friends sad little face on to
her shoulder. Il shall indeed believe in
miracles if see yOU, who are always so
gay and merry, dull and miserable.
Why, you are actually crying, | believe,
and spelling your pretty eyes, all for
the sake of an ugly old Daddy LOnglegs;
how very silly you are, Ethel"
BELLA, dear, do go; you vex me, and
do not wish to talk even to you to-
night. am sure" the poor child con-
tinued, her lip trembling, a never spent
such wretched, hOrrid Christmas Eve.
You actually deserted me, and would
speak to no one but Mr.. Derring, in
stead of coming to my rescue. Could
you not see how papa and mamma, how
everyone, even that little wretch Cyril,
insisted on leaving me alone with that
nasty, detestable old Sir Desmond Les
lie. hate him, and would rather re-
main unmarried all my life than be his
wife"
"Puir wee childie, even being Long
legs relative does not appear to endue
his fat unwieldy form with any charm
in your eyes. They say, If not the rose,
at least near the rOse;' why then, if not
the nephew, at least the uncle?"
"IIow provoking you are, Bella, al
ways-always teasing, never serious for
a minute. Ipity poor Charlie, if ever
he asks you to become Mrs. Derring."
Spare your pity, my dear. Poor
Charlie has tonight gone through that
fearful ordeal, and | stand before you
real, live, engaged woman. See!" And
she held up her left hand, on which
glistened one of the old Derring family
diamonds, the value of which would
have almost bought up the whole of
poor Charles" goods and chattels.
is this true, Bella? If so, accept my
sincerest congratulations; but how do
you intend to live? He has nothing but
his pay, while you"
"IIave nothing at all. Never mind, l
shall manage it, depend upon it! |
know, or rather have heard, of an old
uncle of mine in the north, with heaps
of coin and no relations, but my dear
little self; therefore, | intend to cult.
vate him. Japhet's search after his re-
latiOn will be nothing to mine!" laughed
Bella, merrily.
Lucky girl" sighed Ethel, as she
thought of her lover and the impregna-
BILE barrier, she had raised between
them. 4"
"Oh, Cts, had almost forgotten why
| paid you this nocturnal visit. 1t was
principally to present you with pair
of Skies Do open them. | am so
anxious to see what sort of taste Daddy
has displayed"
While Ethel is untying the small par
Gel sent to her, Bella explains that she
met Marsh (Ethel's maid two or three
hours ago going towards her mistress's
room with the packet in her hand.
Guessing the contents, Bell waylaid
her, and learned that while they were
seated round the old yule log, tasting
the time-hOnOred wassail bowl, Captain
Vane had returned from town, and
sending his excuses to his host, had re-
tired to his room, after ordering that
ingfOrd should be conveyed to herroom
before she went to rest.
$50 you see, dear, he INDUCES in sulki-
ness as well as in many more charming
and eccentric vices; but he is not stinSy
anyhow, for he must have spent lot of
money on these" And she snatched
from Ethel's hand white satin scented
sachet containing dozen of the dainti-
est of pearl-gray gloves, the backs of
which were prettily embroidered with
silk of darker hue.
They really are beautiful, and your
favOrite color, too! How cOuldhe have
known thatY
Bella! Bella! why did treat him so
heartlessly to-day"
Because you are thorough little
coquette, and preferred rather to send
the man you care for away from you
than to humble yourself before him;
and you were quite right, my child
Never show man you are willing to
be his slave, or, most assuredly, he will
make you one," replied this demoiselle,
Oracularly. Receiving no answer, Bell
again continued, Remember, slaves
make tyrants!" and with this truism,
she lightly kissed her friend, and beg
ging her mot to sit up, making herself
pale and ugly" as she was fully con-
WINGED "no man on earth, not even
Charlie, was worth doing that for" she
left the room, and entering her own,
was soon enjoying the sweet sleep she
had so strongly advised her less light
hearted companion to seek.